This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of using domestic agricultural by-products—pruned branches of apple and pear trees, soybean stems, and spent cocopeat substrate—as alternative substrates for the cultivation of Flammulina velutipes. Chemical analysis showed that Substrate 1 (apple branches replacing corncob) and Substrate 2 (pear branches replacing corncob) had total carbon (42.6%) and total nitrogen (1.5%) contents most comparable to those of the Control. Mycelial growth in all mixed substrates exceeded that of the control. Fruiting body yield was higher in Substrate 2 (273.4 g/1,100mL) and Substrate 1 (238.0 g) compared with the Control (231.5 g). Fruiting body quality in Substrates 1 and 2 was equivalent to that of the control. These results indicate that woody by-products such as apple and pear pruned branches can serve as effective replacements corncob in F. velutipes cultivation.

This study was conducted to evaluate horticultural and herbal crop by-products as alternative substrates for the cultivation of Pleurotus eryngii. Chemical analysis showed that Substrate 3 contained 42.2% total carbon and 2.6% total nitrogen, comparable to the control substrate (42.9% and 2.7%). After 35 days of incubation, mycelial growth in treatments ranged from 134.3 to 140.7 mm, which was similar to or greater than that of the control (135.5 mm). Fruiting body yield in Substrate 3 (173.4 g/1,100 mL) was about 14% higher than Control A (152.6 g) at 15 days after scratching, while Substrate 4 (202.9 g) produced yields comparable to Control B (209.6 g) at 17 days. These results demonstrate that red ginseng marc can entirely replace corn germ meal without compromising growth or yield, suggesting its strong potential as a sustainable substrate for P. eryngii. In addition, to enhance the utilization of by-products as substrate resources, it is essential to first establish stable and large-scale supply chains.

In this study, we analyzed the contents of different bioactive compounds, including those with antioxidant activity, in selected mushroom species. Analysis of DPPH radical-scavenging activity revealed that Agaricus bisporus(‘A15’) had the highest antioxidant efficacy at 33.1 μg/mL, followed by Lentinula edodes and Pleurotus ostreatus, for which we also recorded high values. The results of nitrite-scavenging activity analysis revealed L. edodesto have the highest value at 15.8 μg/mL, with A. bisporus, P. ostreatus, and Wolfiporia extensaalso showing relatively good results. Furthermore, our analysis of total polyphenol contents indicated that A. bisporus had the highest content at 13.7 μg/mL, with L. edodesand Flammulina filiformis similarly having high levels, whereas W. extensa was established to contain the highest levels of β-glucan at 32.6 μg/mL, followed by L, edodes and P; ostreatus, which were also found to have significantly high values. These findings indicate that the antioxidant and nitrite-scavenging capacities and polyphenol and β-glucan contents differ according to fungal species. Among the evaluated species, given its high contents of a range of bioactive compounds, A. bisporus was assessed to be a suitable candidate for functional food development, Our findings in this study will provide essential basic data for the development of functional foods using edible mushroom species.

This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional composition of various edible and medicinal mushrooms and assess their potential as alternative food sources in response to increased meat consumption, which poses environmental and health risks. The crude protein, crude fat, carbohydrate, dietary fiber, and vitamin C contents of 17 edible and medicinal mushroom species, including Flammulina velutipes, Pleurotus ostreatus, Pleurotus eryngii, Agaricus bisporus, Lentinula edodes, and Wolfiporia extensa, were systematically analyzed. Pleurotus ostreatus‘Suhan 2’ and P. eryngii‘No. 2’ showed high crude protein and carbohydrate contents, suggesting excellent potential as alternative protein and energy sources. Flammulina velutipesvarieties ‘TO22’ and ‘Aram’ exhibited relatively high crude fat contents, whereas P. eryngii‘No. 2’ and P. ostreatus‘Suhan 2’ had high vitamin C levels, suggesting a beneficial role in immune enhancement. In contrast, the medicinal mushroom W. extensa had relatively low protein and dietary fiber contents, limiting its potential as an alternative protein source compared to the other edible mushrooms. Nonetheless, it may provide other health benefits. The present study provides foundational data for the utilization of mushrooms as sustainable alternative food resources, supporting efforts to mitigate environmental impacts of meat production and improve dietary health.

This study analyzed patent trends for technologies that convert horticultural crop residues into mushroom substrates and developed mycelium-based utilization technologies. Environmental pollution caused by disposable plastics and Styrofoam has increased. Therefore, the demand for innovative and eco-friendly solutions has substantially increased. Agricultural residues such as fruit pruning residues and citrus waste provide economically and environmentally viable alternatives to imported raw materials because of their rich cellulose and lignin contents. Recent studies have shown that substrates containing these residues can produce mushrooms of equivalent quality as conventional sawdust-based media, thereby reducing production costs and improving resource independence. In addition, mushroom mycelia have been developed as sustainable materials for non-animal leather, packaging, building, and insulation. A patent analysis of ECOVATIVE confirmed important innovations in processing, material mixing, and product applications. The results provide the foundation for building an integrated system for utilizing horticultural residue resources with mycelium-based materials, as well as offers strategic insights and future directions for the research and development of sustainable industrial materials. The results also demonstrate the potential of agricultural byproducts to reduce dependence on imported substrates, lower cultivation costs, and mitigate environmental impacts, ultimately contributing to a circular economy for the development of sustainable materials.

Oyster mushrooms were analyzed to confirm the effect of installing a convection fan on the uniformity of the environment inside the cultivation house, the quantity of fruiting bodies, and marketability for stable production. When using a convection fan, it was confirmed that the temperature, relative humidity, and CO2 concentration were maintained more uniformly than when not used.As for the characteristics of the fruiting bodies, the quantity per bottle was 177.3 g when using a convection fan, which was 17% higher than when not used, and the individual weight was 49% higher. In addition, the cap diameter, cap thickness, and stem thickness increased slightly in the convection fan treatment, and the stem length was shorter.

This study was conducted to confirm whether domestic fruit tree pruning residues can replace sawdust, which is the main ingredient of mushroom medium. The five types of fruit tree pruning residues collected were from apples, pears, peaches, grapes, and citrus. The basic components of these residues were analyzed. The pH ranged from 5.2 to 7.0, the Total carbon(T-C) ranged from 46.0% to 47.2%, the Total nitrogen(T-N) ranged from 0.5% to 0.9%, and the moisture content ranged from 12.4% to 14.2%, which was identified as an appropriate range for growing mushrooms. In order to confirm the possibility of mycelial growth of oyster mushroom "Suhan", column tests were conducted based on the conventional medium(poplar sawdust 49.5: cotton seed hull 27.3: beet pulp 12.7: cotton seed meal 10.5, v/v). As a result of incubation at 25°C for 28 days, grape branches showed the fastest growth at 143 mm compared to the control, which showed 135 mm. The yield per bottle was comparable, with grape branches(134g/bottle) and control(139g/bottle). Additionally, the quality of the fruiting bodies was comparable across all Processed lots. It means grape branches can be used as alternative sawdust materal. In the future, it is expected that using by-products as substitutes for carbon sources and main ingredients will help reduce farm production costs and protect the environment.

This study examined domestic consumption trends in the development of mushroom-based alternative food products. It found that 85.5% of consumers were aware of alternative foods, with a higher recognition rate among younger age groups and variations based on household composition and monthly income. Additionally, 70% of consumers familiar with alternative foods had tried them. Among those who had not, taste (16%) and purchasing challenges (15%) were the primary barriers. Minced meat was the most commonly consumed alternative (25%), while dumplings (7%) and burgers (1%) were less popular. Notably, dumplings and burgers showed the highest potential for development using mushroom-based ingredients. These findings provide valuable foundational data for advancing mushroom-based alternative food products.

In this study, Pleurotus ostreatus were grown in bottles at temperatures set to 15°C, 20°C, and 25°C inside the cultivation room. Changes in temperature, CO2 concentration, and humidity inside the bottles were measured, and growth characteristics according to the temperature conditions were evaluated. CO2 concentration increased overall as the temperature increased and was particularly stable at 20°C, suggesting that 20°C is the optimal condition for the physiological respiration of P. ostreatus . While humidity was relatively constant at 15°C, it decreased over time at 20°C and was maintained at a stable level at 25°C, suggesting that water retention capacity may occur at high temperatures. As a result of the growth investigation, the yield per bottle and individual weight were the highest at 20°C, confirming that 20°C is the most suitable temperature condition for the growth of oyster mushrooms. At 25°C, the yield per bottle was maintained but the individual weight decreased and the color tended to change. These results suggest that the interaction between CO2 concentration, humidity, and temperature has a significant effect on the growth and quality of oyster mushrooms, and that it is effective to control the cultivation room temperature to 20°C for optimal growth.

This study was conducted to selection and investigate appropriate conditions for mass production of antagonistic microbes to control cobweb disease caused by Cladobotryum mycophilum. A grampositive bacterium was isolated from spent substrate of Agaricus bisporus and showed significant antagonistic activity against Cladobotryum mycophilum. The bacterium was identified as Bacillus altitudinis. based on the cultural, biochemical and physiological characteristics, and 16S rRNA sequence. The isolate is saprophytic, but not parasitic nor pathogenic to cultivated mushroom whereas it showed strong inhibitory effects against C. mycophilum cells in vitro. The control efficacy of B. altitudinis HC7 against cobweb disease of C. mycophilum was up to 78.2% on Agaricus bisporus. The suppressive bacterium may be useful for the development of biocontrol system. To define the appropriate conditions for the mass production of the Bacillus altitudinis HC7, we have investigated appropriate culture conditions and effects of various nutrient source on the bacterial growth. The appropriate initial pH and temperature were determined as pH 6.0 and 30oC, respectively. The appropriate concentration of medium elements for the growth of pathogen inhibitor bacterium(Bacillus altitudinis HC7) was determined as follows: 3.0% soluble startch, 10% soytone, 1.0% (NH4)2HPO4, 1.0 mmol KCl, and 0.5% L-asparagine.

Fluorescent bacteria were isolated from sporocarps that browned into various mushrooms during survey at places of the production in Korea. We examined the pathogenicity, biodiversity, and genetic characteristics of the 19 strains identified as Pseudomonas tolaasii by sequence analysis of 16S rRNA and White Line Assay. The results emphasize the importance of rpoB gene system, fatty acid profiles, specific and sensitive PCR assays, and lipopeptide detection for the identification of P. tolaasii. As a result of these various analyses, 17 strains (CHM03~CHM19) were identified as P. tolaasii. The phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene showed that all strains were clustered closest to P. tolaasii lineage, two strains (CHM01, CHM02) were not identified as P. tolaasii and have completely different genetic characteristics as a result of fatty acids profile, specific and sensitive PCR, lipopetide detection, rpoB sequence and REP-PCR analysis. Pathogenicity tests showed 17 strains produce severe brown discolouration symptoms to button mushrooms and watersoaking of sporophore tissue within three days after inoculation. But two strains did not produce discolouration symptoms. Therefore, these two strains will be further investigated for correct species identification by different biological and molecular characteristics.

Plastics are widely used in industries in human society and because of their structural stability, degradation is a serious global issue. To estimate the degradation of plastic, 31 edible mushrooms were cultured with the selected plastic films (polyethylene [PE], polystyrene [PS], and poly(ethylene terephthalate) [PET]) for 3 months at 25 °C. Measuring the weight of the films showed that four species of mushrooms, namely Porostereum spadiceum, Ganoderma lucidum, Coprinellus micaceus, and Pleurotus ostreatus, exhibited the highest degrees of plastic degradation. In addition, the mushrooms and fungi that exhibited the most significant plastic degradation were cross-cultured to promote this degradation. As a result, cross-cultivation of G. lucidum and Aspergillus niger showed a weight loss of 2.49% for the PET film. For the PS film, Aspergillus nidulans showed a weight loss of 4.06%. Cross-cultivation of A. nidulans and C. micaceus, which showed a weight loss of 2.95%, was noted as an alternative for PS biodegradation, but is harmful to humans. These bio-degradation effects of edible mushroom will contribute to the development of alternatives for eco-friendly plastic degradation.

As a member of ectomycorrhizal fungi, Tricholoma matsutake has a symbiotic relationship with its host, Pinus densiflora. To cultivate T. matsutake artificially, the co-cultivation of T. matsutake mycelia and bacteria from shiro was introduced. In this study, bacteria were isolated from soil samples in Bonghwa-gun, and seven bacterial isolates (B22_7_B05, B22_7_B06, B22_7_B07, B22_7_B08, B22_7_B10, B22_7_B13, and B22_7_B14) promoted the growth of T. matsutake mycelia (147.48, 232.11, 266.72, 211.43, 175.17, 154.62, and 177.92%, respectively). Sequencing of the 16S rRNA region of the isolated bacteria was performed. B22_7_B05 and B22_7_B10 were identified as Bacillus toyonensis, B22_7_B06 and B22_7_B08 as Paenibacillus taichungensis, B22_7_B07 and B22_7_B14 as P. gorilla, and B22_7_B13 as P. odorifer. These bacterial isolates were associated with the shiro community and are expected to contribute to the cultivation of T. matsutake.

Tricholoma matsutake is a traditional favorite food in East Asia, cultivated in fairy rings called “shiro,” which are found near Pinus densiflora. For effective artificial cultivation of Tri. matsutake, microorganisms from symbiotic fairy rings are co-cultivated. In this study, one bacterial isolate (Y22_B35) and two fungal isolates (Y22_F64 and Y22_F68) displayed growth-promoting effects on Tri. matsutake mycelium (158.47, 125.00, and 122.26% enhanced growth, respectively). For identification, 16S rRNA or ITS regions from the microorganisms¡¯ genomes were sequenced. Other sequences, including BenA, CaM, and RPB2 were sequenced in the fungal isolates. The bacterial isolate Y22_B35 was identified as Bacillus cereus. Y22_F64 and Y22_F68 were identified as Umbelopsis nana and Aspergillus parvulus, respectively. To identify the effects of the dominant microorganisms on Tri. Matsutake cultivation, metagenomic analyses were performed. Discovery of these Tri. matsutake mycelium growth-promoting microorganisms and metagenomics analyses are expected to contribute to our understanding of Tri. matsutake fruiting body growth and construction of biomimicry.